Limitations with solvent exchange methods for synthesis of colloidal fullerenes

Abstract

We have found demonstrated that the use of tetrahydrofuran (THF) as a solvent to produce dispersed, water soluble fullerenes results in significant oxidation and degradation of the fullerene cage, which has not been reported previously. We also report a new finding that the use of N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) can also generate stabilised fullerene (C60) nanoparticle dispersions in aqueous solutions including water and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) buffer. We compare this new DMF method with the well-known THF method following an extensive chemical and physical analysis of the resulting nanoparticles. The exact mechanism of action behind this oxidation and degradation is unknown, however, t..